Month

upload30 January 2012

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7 January 2012

Last year has left me full of motivation for the new year, I have a 'I can do that better this year' kind of new years resolution. Still fresh in my mind are try not to let the rabbits eat the Christmas sprouts and don't let Chris 'take care' of the special chilli's

Some of the best bits of any garden are the unexpected suprised and new discoveries.  I was delighted to find a patch of wild strawberries behind the polytunnel.  Even though I had to move the fennel plants from an area that turned out to more more or less a bog it was great to see them springing up all over the place having self seeded.

I am very excited about the new seeds we have in the shop this year.  Particulary the return of Tomatillo in it's traditional green and now in purple too. I loved growing this last year from some seeds I had saved, great fruits in delicate papery lanterns.  Never liking to disappoint I am delighted we now have a gherkin type cucumber, Hokus.  I'm really looking forward to a few jars of these in the fridge.

Dig For Victory5 September 2011

This weekend we were at the Heywood 1940's festival.  Not the usual place for organic gardeners amonst the camoflague and spitfires but I we had some great inspiration.

Back when the Second World War broke out the goverment launched a campaign to get the public using every spare peice of land to cultivate vegetables.  The most memorable slogan from the campaign was 'Dig For Victory', It also launched the first celebrity gardener 'Mr Middleton'

I would love to see this (I wasn't around at the time), Instead of a paved driveway there could be rows of raised beds bursting with beautiful leafy greens.....  Well we did our best to spread the gardening spirit. With the use of the handy paper potter we made take away spinach pots

The Balsalm is coming12 August 2011

I found the dreaded Himalayan Balsam out side the field gate.

I almost convinced myself that it's not that important, it is after all a great source of nectar for honey bees and they need all the help they can get. Thinking about it that's quite a short sighted view.  It is a pest, an aggressive weed that spreads rapidly and smothers all other vegetation.  The bees are enjoying it now but i think they really appreciate a bit of biodiversity.

Himalayan balsam is a tall growing annual plant, about 2-3m tall. Clusters of purplish pink flowers are produced between June and October and are followed by explosive seed pods.  Seed pods can shoot seeds up to 7m away.

The BTCV regularly organise 'Balsam bashing' jobs, clearing waterways and other important areas.  Destroying the plants before they set seed is a very effective way of control.  I chose the 'pull them up' method, as the plants work their way down the lane I can see me doing this more often in the future.

If you want any more info on the Balsam the RHS has a good advice sheet rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile